Vanity box or case



June 10, 1941;

' w. H. MACHI N VANITY BOX OR CASE Filed Sept. 5, 1938 1NV.ENTOR M n N wY B /7 Patented June 10, 1941 UNITED STATE VANITY BOX OR CASE Willis H.Machin, Middlebury, Conn., assignor to Scovill Manufacturing Company,Waterbury, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application September 3,1938, Serial No. 228,419

2 Claims. (01. 220-35) This invention relates to certain improvements invanity boxes or cases,

The tendency of late is to produce vanity boxes in which the base or thebody portion is made of a molded plastic composition or analogoussubstance and the other parts such as the cover lids, powder well,mirror, spring catches, etc. are preferably made of metal and fittedinto this body to complete the box. This type of box calls for asomewhat difierent constructional design in its fabrication from theconventional boxes made entirely of metal.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a combination plasticbody and a metal compartment member fitted into the body in which thebody has a top flat plane and a cover of relatively shallow dimension ishinged to the compartment member and designed to rest against the topplane of the body when in closed position.

A further object is to provide a hinge construction for the above typeof box, in which the open movement of the cover will be permitted toopen onlyfor a predetermined distance so that the mirror carried by thecover shall stand in a position most convenient to the user.

With these objects in view and others not specifically referred to, theinvention consists in certain novel parts, arrangements and combinationswhich will be described in connection with the accompanying drawing, andthe novel features pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawing:

Fig, 1 is a perspective view of the vanity case constructed inaccordance with the present invention, with the two cover lids in openposition,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the same, taken on the line of 2-2,of Fig. 1, with the cover lids in closed position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, slightly enlarged, of the right end view ofFig. 2 to show in clearer detail the hinge construction and coveropening mechanism.

Fig, 4 is a plan view of the body made of molded plastic composition,per se.

Fig. 5 is a diagonal vertical sectional view through one corner of thebox showing the means for holding the metal insert in assembledposition, the view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawing in which like numerals indicate likepartsthroughout the several views, the numeral ill refers to a body which inthis case is preferably made of plastic oomposition having its front andback walls out 01f in parallel planes and its longitudinal sidewallscurved and merged smoothly into the top and bottom flat planes of saidbody, and it is within the purview of this invention to make ornamentalshape of the box other than that described and illustrated in thedrawing. The central portion of the body I0 is arranged with a hollow toprovide a compartment ll into which is fitted a cup shaped containershell l2 having a horizontal integral flange l3 extending outwardly fromits upper edge. Within the hollow compartment H of the body Illprojecting from the sidewalls thereof, there is provided a ledge I4extending around substantially the entire inner periphery of the well(see Fig. 4). The horizontal flange I3 is adapted. to rest upon thisledge M to support the container shell [2 within the compartment II andincidentally to conceal the ledge M from view when the container shellI2 is in assembled position.

From Fig. 4 it will be noted that the ledge [4 has several cut outportions for the purpose of accommodating various of the mechanicalunits forming a part of the vanity box, such as the means for holdingthe parts in closed position, etc., as will be described in detaillater.

The container shell l2 provides for a loose powder well l5 and isadapted to be sealed by a loose powder cover lid l6 pivoted to asuitable hinge construction I1, provided in the upper surface of theflange l3. This cover lid I6 is held in closed position by means of aspring catch l8 projected up through suitable opening l8a in the flangel3 and accommodated in a cut-out l9 provided in ledge portion M of thebody III. This cover lid I6 is preferably cup shape so as to snugly fitinto the upper well portion of the container shell l2 to assure a betterseal for the loose powder well l5, and also by this particular formationthe lid l6 provides a suitable receptacle or pocket Ilia in its uppersurface to receive the usual powder puff (not shown) furnished with allvanity boxes.

In order to seal the vanitybox when not in use, a cover 20 is providedhaving a longitudinal hinge barrel 2| integrally formed along one edge.The cover 20 is hinged to the container shell flange l3 by means of apair of complemental hinge barrels 22-22 formed up from the edge of saidflange l3, disposed above the top plane of the body I0 and spaced toreceive the cover hinge barrel 2| therebetween. A hinge pin 23 isinserted through the alined barrels 2| and 22-22 to complete the hinge.The peripheral edge of the cover 20 is formed down with a relativelynarrow rim 24 providing a pocket suitable to retain a mirror 25preferably made of polished metal in order to keep the cover member asthin as possible; the mirror being held in place by several nibs 26staked inwardly from the free edge of the cover rim 24.

When the coverv is closed the free edge portion of the cover rim 24rests upon the top surface of the body It) thus extending above theupper plane of the body to the amount only of the cover thickness. Thecover 20 is held in closed posi- T: t to tion by means of a catch lug 21projecting inwardly from the front edge of the cover rim 24 and adaptedto be releasably engaged by a spring catch 28 operated by thumb piece 29projecting througha slot' 30 in the front wall of the body. The springcatch is confined within a recess I911;

formed in the adjacent ledge portion [4 of the body Ill and closedtherein by the bridgingefiect of the adjacent flange and powder wellwall between the ledge l4. 1 Y .f

The fact that the cover'rests' snugly" upon the upper plane of the bodyrequires that provision be made to raise the cover 29 upon the releaseof the spring catch 23 a distance sufficient to allow room to permit theoperator to insert a thumborufinger there bene'ath.=, This meansisprovided by a spring mechanism. disposed in a socket tiforl'ned. inthe'ledge' portion [4 of the body le -and operated adjacent the hingebar"- rel Zloff-the coverill. Thisj'spring mechanism comprisesessentially 'a tubular eyelet 32 having its upper exposed end formedinto a rounded headti, to operate as a cam 1 for opening the cover 29and with the opposite end formed with an outwardly flared flange 36,slidably fitted into the socket 3i, The body of .theeyelet 32 is adapt-.ed' to project throughva suitableopeinng 35 pierced through the flangedportion [3 "of the container shell l 2. The openingBt-is of asmallerdiameter than thesocket ill in the body I!) and is coaxially disposedthere over providing an overhanging shoulder, at the open end of thesocket (ii against which. as .a stop the eyelet .fia'nge 34' engages: asbest shownin'FigQ. 3. One

end of aspring 36 is fitted within the hollow I portion of the tubulareyelet. 32while the opposite end rests against the base'of the socket3|. The spring 33 normally urges said eyelet 32 upwardly untilthefi'ange 3d meets the stop shoulder immediately surroundingthevopening 35.

' The working principle: of the'above construction is weil:illustratedin Figs. 2 and 3, wherein vrlienthecover'lid Hi is closedfthe eyelet: 32will be forced'downwa'rdly-v in the socket 3i causing the springEEVto'be compressed and remain under tensi'on 'nntil up'on'therelea'seof the spring catch 28' tl1e-cover willautomatically be forcedopen-tea positionsindicatedin Fig.8; This will allow; sufficient roomfor the operator to insert a .thumb "or, finger underneath and open thecover 28 the remaining distance. 1

In order to retain all the metal parts within -the1 compartment"iii ofthebody .li] when in assembled position, the following construction ispro vided. 'The vertical wall ofthe ledge M in each corner is formedwith an undercut'slot 31, see Figs. l zand 5. After the container shell'12 is inserted into place within the compartment 1, each corner wall ofthe powder well is forced outwardly to form external nibs 38 which enterinto permanent engagement within the undercut slots 3i, see Fig 5. ;Itis here to be understood that in this assembly of the vanity born beforethe nibbing operation, the spring catch z t andattachedt th nnb piece 29are first assemble'dfinfiheir respective positions in the body l ii .andithen the container shell I 2,- assenn bled withthe hingelid I t thecover; 28 and the hinge lid spring catch it areas a unit assembled intothe plastic body iii. Thisconstruction afiords a permanent assembly ofall the metal parts to the pisses base and prevents any subsequeat tan'pneg with the mechanical arrangements ;of the box.

n Order iq-.- f -ei ie ii isli br i n g l 't determined limit and thusto hold it at the desired angle relatively to the upper plane of thebody it, the metal stock of the flange l3 between the hinge barrels 22,22 is formed up into a 1ongitudinal arcuate lip 39 which is adapted toembrace a portion of the cover hinge barrel 2|, see Fig. 3. The freeedge of the lip 39 extends a sufficient distance above the upper planeof the body iii, to bring the cover 20 to rest as the backof the coverstrikes against the edge of the lip, at a position substantially asrepresented in dotte'd 'o'utlin'e in Fig. 3. By thus serving as a stopior'the cover 29, the lip also prevents the cover at all times fromcoming into direct contact with the body Hi, such as to act as a leverto pry the container shell l2 out of its compartment H, or to put anyundue strain upon the assembly nibs 33.

While the form of-invention herein shown and describedjembraces apreferred embodiment of the same, it is to be understood that theconstruction may be varied as to mechanical details-without departingfrom;the spirit of the invention-and the scope of what is claimed.

What is claimed is:

i. In a vanity box; a body made of a molded product and having a hollowcompartment openingin'i'rom theto-p-tplan'e of said body, a ledgeportioni'disposed below the top' plane of=said body andprojectinginwardly from the walls of said compartment, a container shellfitted into said compartment and having a peripheral flange restingupon-said ledge "portion, a pair of spaced ,1: lied-hinge; barrelsformed at the rear edge of s-aidifiange; a'c'over for closin'gisa'idcompartment havinga .complementary hinge barrel rolled from thecoveriniaterial and fitted between 'said'spaced barrels-a hinge pinconnecting said barrels together, and .a lug" formed iand bent outwardlyfrom the edge. of said flange between'said container shell barrels, saidlugb'eing'of an arcuate shape in conformity with the cover barrelandextended to .a distance" slightly 'above'the top planeof said body, ansedge of said lugadapted .to be engaged byrthestopc-surface of said coveradjacent-the hingeiutoa limit? the opening movement oi the cover andprevent the latter from engaging the top surface of the "body and "actin the manner-era lever. a 1

2.:111a-vanity:box,ea*b'odym'ade of a molded pro ductand -having ia'hollow compartment open-'- nggin -;fIOIli-' the top p'la-ne hf 's'aid'b'ody aledge 1301121011 disposed beIOW'tIie-top'pIane oi? said body andprojectin inwardly froniithei walls' o'f said compartment, containershell=fitted iiito said compartment andnaving aliperipheral flangerestingiupon-v said ledgeiportion; one' edge of said flange havin anupstanding wall with o'ppos'ite ends formedinto spacedrolledhingebarrels disposed With h r;axes-rabove'the'top plane of said bod-y a distance substantially orie half" the diameter ;ofsaid barrels; ashallowacup-shaped cover for; closing said com-par,tment-and when"closed designed to have witszcu'pped edge rest upon I the top plane' of';said=b0 'y, (a; fcomplementary hinge bar-rel ronedfrom: the covermaterial F and fitted bet eensaid spaced barrels; a hingepin'connectaia- -b-arre ls together, andia lug formed-from pstandi-ngwall between said? spaced; barawed-outwardly about-said cover hinge oa;position where the lug edge is disposed sl ghtly above the-top planeofsaid body andcoasts with said cover; to limit the opening moyement ofzthelatter; W I

4 WILLIS H-.'M.AGIHN-"

